Reasons why the benefits of red wine are overrated

Does it have as many benefits as you think?

With so much publicity and marketing about the benefits of wine throughout the year, the inevitable question arises: Are the benefits of red wine really worth promoting?

Regarding cardiovascular benefits

Resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant that protects the body from free radicals. It is found in grapes, berries, peanuts, and of course, red wine. The first study came to light in 1992, and since then the benefits of red wine for heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic diseases continue to be proclaimed.

Looking at the studies, one of them involved 26 people, and it was shown that both LDL cholesterol and blood pressure decreased after 2 weeks of daily consumption of 250 ml of red wine. But it was only for 2 weeks and in a small group of 26 people who were also healthy individuals.

If we talk about heart health, do you know what really protects the heart, with many studies corroborating it? Physical exercise.

Exercise will provide you with cardiovascular benefits that, unfortunately, wine cannot give you, as the benefits of wine for the heart still need to prove themselves.

It could help fight cancer, or not…

There is only one study on this, but on the other hand, there are many more that show that alcohol is a well-known carcinogen. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, alcohol is classified as group 1 (carcinogen for humans). It has been linked to several types of cancer, including liver, breast, and esophageal cancer. It damages tissues and cells, helps other harmful carcinogens to the body, and can also cause weight gain, which can increase the risk of cancer. It is also believed to alter estrogen levels in the body, which can lead to breast cancer.

Therefore, what is certain is that red wine is far from being a superfood or a drink with many benefits.

• There is a lack of research when it comes to the health effects and benefits of red wine.
• Most existing studies focus on animal studies, and there are few human trials that have been able to establish a clear connection between red wine and health.
• Most published studies have only shown the short-term effects of red wine, making it difficult to say what the long-term effects might be.
• Alcohol is a carcinogen.

So, if you want to have a glass because you like it; go ahead. But if you want to do it because you think drinking red wine has health benefits, it's better to choose other ways to live healthier; ways that do not involve consuming alcohol.

But do you have to give it up completely? Of course not.